Steve Rustad illuminates issues and dissects politics

Thanks to an approval for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the widely desired (by 72% of Petalumans) and rabidly opposed (by nimby's, "progressives," and the rest of the anti-everything minority) Rainier connector - between the east and west sides of river city - is once again in the news. Don't [...]

With each passing day, East Washington Place becomes more and more evident. A growing testament to the determination of many to prevail over the obstructions, lies and legal shenanigans of a few who claimed to represent the interests of our community as a whole but, in the end, stood only for [...]

After all the foot-dragging, hysteria, disingenuous arguments, outright lies, and frivolous litigation that verged on blackmail, Petaluma will finally plug some of the "retail leakage" that serious citizens have been complaining about for nearly a decade.

If you want to make sure that your town stays mired in the past, there's no better place from which to foist your vision of petrification than a seat on the Planning Commission. Apparently such is Petaluma's lot, give the Planning Commission's recent flanking movement on the Deer Creek Development. [...]

After seven years of wooing Petaluma, Lowes threw in the towel. I guess the additional and unnecessary EIR's required by the city in the hopes of forestalling the blackmail, I mean frivolous litigation, threatened by the anti-growth gang finally wore Lowes down. So, who do you think is publicly chortling that Lowe's departure gives us "time to rethink the project?" The same bunch who will obstruct the next iteration of the project, and the one after that. And in the process, these self-righteous bullies continue to cost the city sorely needed tax revenues, and the citizens jobs.

I've observed a feature common to local citizens oversight groups: a significant portion of the membership is there not to add value, offer creative input, or support the stated purpose of the group. These participants join the group just so they can veto whatever irks them or their cronies. I suggest renaming the Planning Comission to the Planning Omission.

Despite all the foot-dragging, long-rolling, hand-wringing, buck-passing and frivolous litigation (to date, anyway), it looks as if Petaluma is one step closer to having it's own Target store. Despite the hysterical efforts of the anti-big-box, Keep Petaluma Egregious (erroneous, execrable...whatever) bunch, many who are forced to burn up fossil fuels and abrade their rubber tires driving out of town to shop at the nearest Target, may soon be able to stay in town and reduce their carbon footprint. And let's not forget that sales taxe revenue. Not that the city needs it, of course.

Petaluma's self-annointed Progressives elected the mayor to represent their heartfelt goals and achieve their most profound purposes. In short (no pun intended), the mayor is the living embodiment of a Petaluma Progressive - abusing subordinates, aiding a trespasser who interferes with legally-mandated activities, claiming ownership of projects that have survived despite his determined opposition. On one hand, you can say that he's no worse than most politicians, e.g., people who do whatever they have to do to get their own way, which (in my view) perfectly characterizes our local brand of "Progressive."

This just in... A former Petaluma City Councilperson, a spouse, and an individual who strongly resembled hizzoner, the Mayor, visited the site of the future (hopefully) Deercreek Shopping Center. The Councilperson and spouse attempted to block the mowing of the grass for reasons that are not clear, while the third individual stood by on the sidelines. When told they were trespassing, all three parties departed without further incident and the mowing was resumed.